NHL Dumps Ref Over Televised Hot Mic Comment
Colin Campbell #ColinCampbell
The National Hockey League on Wednesday announced it would no longer use referee Tim Peel due to a televised comment he is accused of making, caught on a hot mic, during the Tuesday night game between the Nashville Predators and the Detriot Red Wings.
As the game was going into a commercial break in the second period, not long after a penalty had been called against the Predators, a voice could be heard saying, “It wasn’t much, but I wanted to get a fucking penalty against Nashville early in the…” with the rest cut off.
On Wednesday morning, the NHL said Peel was done.
“National Hockey League Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell announced today that referee Tim Peel, following his comments during the game last night between the Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators, no longer will be working NHL games now or in the future,” read the statement from the league.
“Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game,” Campbell said in the statement. “Tim Peel’s conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches and all those associated with our game expect and deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey League will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity of our game.”